Upright extensions for vehicle bodies



June 21, 1955 J, s z 2,711,342

UPRIGHT EXTENSIONS FOR VEHICLE BODIES Y Filed Nov. 2, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l "i[ f2? I 13 21 22 INVENTOR. JGJU'L 58L e1- BY M FJ, .Q

June 21, 1955 J. SELZER UPRIGHT EXTENSIONS FOR VEHICLE BODIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 2, 1951 June 21, 1955 J. SELZER 2,711,342

UPRIGHT EXTENSIONS FOR VEHICLE BODIES Filed Nov. 2, 1951 I 4 Sheeis-Sheet 3 I L INVENT OR. 27 J'GJ'LTL Sager v PMQ-W June 21, 1955 J. sELZER UPRIGHT EXTENSIONS FOR VEHICLE BODIES 4 Sheets-Shet 4 Filed Nov. 2, 1951 7 INVENTOR JIILTL Selger BY P v2 r 1,711,342 1 I 1;; urmo r EXTENSIONS. m seems;

John Selzer, Fort Way e, Ina, assignor mrmergu ii r Harvester Company, a corporation of New jersey Application membe s, 9 .1 sens! arr-2.54. 529 1 6 Claims. (Cl. 296-42) I I invention relates to vehicle bodies, an m re rarl cul ly to att shments fo u eutional PEI?? Y2? ra to truck od s for adapting th bod s, or many new an to g ne a ly inc ease the oad carrying capa ity of the ruck.-

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the various views, there is shown the rear port-ion of a conventionalpick-up type motor truck 10. The motor truck includes aforwardlydisposed operators compartment 2 '1'1' (partiallyshownyand a pickup type vehicle body 12.

The bod-y 12 is generally illustrated as having a pair of spaced opposite side panels13 and a floor 14. The rear edge of each side panel -13 jis formed with a vertically extending portionls formed as anintegral part of the panel and providing an olT-set portion adapted to receive aniendgate 16-whieh is pivoted at its lower end on a the portions and are 1 adapted to abut the portions 7 Con entiona pick-up yp t uck us a ssnof apair o pased sid p nels i idly t s support g 1. 9 A. i cu pauel ate soanscts he inward ends of the s de pane s and an end gate i provided at th opposi e ends he e f, he pan ls an gate erte ui ertica y from th a sernparatirsly dis-- an e and for reason he kind o cargo s l use th of is g eatly .lim te It isy-th rei rs th on: wary object of th p es nt inven ion t rrwide an aliasint-ransversehorizontal axis-1o the side panels 13, the a-xis' lying'general-ly in the horizontal plane of the floor 14. The-outwardly. facing ends 17 of the end-gate 1 lie,-respectively, in substantially the same vertical planes as 15'. as shown in Figure 1; when the end-gate '16 'is' in its closed'position. jEach end of the'end-gate 16 is formed with-oppositely extending flange 18 which overlaps the respective portions 15 when the-end-gate 16 is i n the. position'shown in Figures l, 2, 6 and 8 to provide a I grain -tights'eaI betWeen the end-gate and the side panels 19,; integrally formed thereon, having a circular erossssection as best illustrated in Figured.

meat tor a sonve tienal risk-up My t9 irre esss the u abilit truck hisk; it is applied Ano her sbisst i t P ov de srsiu tisht amen-meat to; a a e-up tyre rus bed-y to t least d ubl the sr in or ot e ranu ar mater al sa rv ns-sapas tv at the. body, A further ject i the srerisies r nteeseel; at: ashrnent wh sk is r ad ly assemb ed irestly n the bo y or a an interm d at sestien whi h. 5 11 1 3513 attached tot ebodv .St l anothe obj ct i e provision otawbcdy ent m t es ha ing a nove closure member at end-which mate w th he truck body e d can to. terms s ern tight bur ble features inherent in and encompassed by this inven, tion, together with many of the pu poses and uses thereof, wi l b come readily appa ent from a reading elf-the m su ng description in .cbililmction ings, in'which: 1 is a perspective view .of a truck taken from a point disposed to the rear of the truck showing a grain-tight lliemblo d enth truek;

Figure 2 is a plan viewsf Fizute Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure '1 showing. the e d gate of the truck body n thes sure membe 1 the attaehrne t disengaged;

ad th v lumet ic sapas ty at the more: 7

The forego ng n other important bj cts and desire- Figure 4 is a detailed s ctional view takensubstantially i along line f Figure 3; Fig re 5 is a fragmentary sec ional view taken substsmiallv alo g li e Qt figure .1. 1

Figu e 6 is a iew s milar t Figure 1 showings steels ack at ac ment m unted n s s eimtisht b x which, in r is astened to the t uck v F ur 7 an en a ed det il view of the rear porti n f the right ide panel o the illust ated in Fig re 6;

Fig re .8 i a V ew sim lar o F u e 1 showing a stock .raek attaehmeut f stened to the truck bo y;

F ure 9 is a sect eue iew tak n substan ially a e ts L ne 9+ o Fi ure 8; and Y .Fizure 19 i an enla ged, secti nal view taken: sub: sentient slan line 19:11) at E sure i1.

' and-intermediate the ends are vertically disposed rib 'members 28 having-a channel section. The rib members l-provide flat, horizontal upper surfaces 29 which extend purpose of which will beiexplained hereinafter.

Tlle iorwardends of the side panels 13 are inter-conmated by means of ajfront panel 14' having the same vertieal dimension as-the'side panels 13. As best shown in Figures '4, 7 and 9 the top surfaces of the side and front panels 13, 14' are formed byiextending the paneis' fhorizontally outwardly. A bead 21, having a fl sh-sped cross-section. is integrally formed with the top surfaceltl'of each side panel 13 and projects outwardly from its respective side panel. The topsurface -20 of each of the sidepanels 15 has a pair of longitudinally-spaced upwardly iacing' 'openings 22, as shown in Figure 2 formed therein whieh serve as stake-receiving sockets. {twill be understood that the openings 22 aretlisposed stench of thejfour corners of the body 12. V

--"Ifh'e above; described vehicle structure is considered e nvemip arand torms nopart of the present invention. While a eonventional pick-up type truck is extremely useful to: many hauling operations it has'several drawbacks indefinitely limited because of the relatlvely' short distance the panels and end-gate extend truck may be capable of a load weighing twice as much a: it actually does since the volumetric capacity 23 andshown iriFigures 1 and 3,'is fastened to the body.

The at'tachment 2-3i-includes a pair of spaced side sections 24 which havetheir rearwardmost marginal edges rigidly secured to respective opposite ends of a front section 25. T Each section 2.4, 25 comprises a single, vertically disposed sheet 36f metal 26v having slightly oifset, integrally formed flanges 27 depending therefrom, the

Positioned at each end of the side and "front sections 24, 25

28 are rigi ly fastened to respective metal sheets 26 by any suitable means, such .as by Welding or the lik and imilthfll sections. The metal sheets 26 are formed 2,711,342 Patented June 21 1955.

In order to increase outwardly. Beads 30, similar to beads 19, are integrally formed with the upper surfaces 29. Rigidly fastened to the rib members 28 disposed at each end of the side sections 24 are stakes 31 which extend below thelower marginal edges of the sections 24. The rear edge of each side section 24 is formed with a vertically extending flange 32 formed asan integral part of the metal sheet 26 to provide an off-set portion. A closure member 33 is pivoted at its upper end by means of a rod 34 on a transversehorizontal axis to the flanges 32. Clamping levers 35 engage threaded portions on each end of the rod 34 to secure the closure memberv 33 to the side sections 24. The transversely' disposed ends of the closure member 33 are defined by integrally formed L-shaped flanges 36, one leg 37 of each-being adapted to abut a respective flange 32 when'the closure member 33 is in the position shown in Figure l andthe other leg 38 engaging the rearward edge of the same flange 32. p

In order to increase the volumetric capacity of the motor truck 10 the attachment 23. is placed on the body 12 by first inserting the depending stakes 31 into the stake-receiving pockets 22 formed in the side panels 13. The attachment 23 is then lowered vertically until the side and front sections 24, 25, which are rigidly interconnected, rest upon the top surfaces 20 of the side and front panels 13, 14 respectively. In this position the slightly off-set flanges 27 depending'from the sections 24 and 25 abut the inwardly facing surfaces :of the side and front panels 13, 14'. Securing means are provided for maintaining the attachment 23 in its assembled condition which include a pair of clamping elements '39,, one of the elements 39 being carried by each of the intermediate rib members 28 of the side sections 24. Each intermediate rib member 28 is provided with an-outwardly projecting pin 40 and a threaded member 41 which are insertable in a pair of apertures 42 formed in a vertical portion 43 of each clamping element 39. Depending from the vertical portion 43 of each clamping element 39 is a O-shaped portion 44 which is adapted to" engage the bead 21 of the side panel 13 adjacent thereto, A wing nut 45 is then screwed on the threaded member 41 to tightly grip the upper edge of the side panels 13. between the clamping elements 39 and the flanges 27 depending from the side sections 24. It will becbvious from the foregoing that the juncture between the truck body 12 and the side and front sections 24, 25 is completely grain-tight by virtue of the flanges 27 and the attachment 23 is rigidly maintained on and prevented from moving relatively to the body 12-bythe stakes31, the flanges27 and the clamping elements 39. Y Y

The lower edge of the closure member 33 is defined by a slightly oif-set continuation 46 of the sheet metal section 47. One leg 48 of a metal strip 49 'having a Z-shaped cross-section is welded to the sheet metal section 47 whereby the opposite leg 50 is longitudinally spaced from the continuation 46. In order to close the rear end of the truck body 12and the attachment 23, the end-gate 16 is swung upwardly and the closure member 33 is swung downwardly until the bead 19 is adjacent the lower edge of the closure member 33. Thebead 19 is caused to enter the space between the continuation 46 and the leg 50 as best shown in Figure 5. The end gate 16 is then locked in its closed position by any suitable means and the clamping levers 35 are tightened to lock the closure member 33 in its closed position. By virtue of the simple and unique structure described above, a grain-tight seal is obtained between the closure member 33 and the end-gate 16.

In the event it is desired to haul livestock or other bulky material requiring side boards that extend a greater vertical distance oh the floor 14 than the conventional pick-up type body 12, the stock-rack attachment 51, shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, can be quickly and easily mounted on the body 12. The stock-rack attachment 51 comprises a pair of side sections 52'pivotally connected to a front section 53 at one end and to a rear section 54 at their opposite ends. Each section 52, 53, 54 includes three vertically spaced boards 55 which have their ends confined between the flanges 56 of U-shaped pillar posts 57. Midway between the pillar posts 57 of each section a channel member 58 is bolted to the boards 55 to add rigidity and strength to the section. Depending from each of the pillar posts 57 of the side sections 52 is a stake 59 which is receivable in the stake-receiving sockets 22 formed in the side panels 13.

Referring to Figure 9, it will be noted thata clamping plate 60 is positioned adjacent each of the intermediate channel members 58 of the side sections 52. The clamping plates 60 carry pins 61 which extend through aligned apertures in the lowermost boardsSS of the side sections 52 and the webs 62 of the intermediate channel members 58. A part 63 of each pin '61 extends outwardly from the web 62 of each channel member 58. Each plate 60-also carries a bolt 64 which extends through a spacer block 65 and the channel member 58 associated therewith. A clamping element 66 having a vertical portion 67 provided with a pair of vertically aligned apertures for loosely receiving the part 63 of pin 61 and the bolt 64 abuts the web 62 of each intermediate channel member 58. Integrally formed with the vertical portion 67 of each clamping element 66 and depending therefrom is a C-shapedportion 68 which is adapted to engage the head 21 of the 'side panel 13 adjacent thereto. A wing nut-69 coo'perable with the bolt 64 is turned to tightly grip the upper edge of the side panels 13 between clamping elements 66 and the plates 60 which extend below the lowermost boards 55 of the sidesection's 52. The pin 61, like its counterpart pin 40" in the attachment shown in Figure l, correctly positions the clamping element on the channel member-58 and prevents the same from canting during the clamping operation.

The rear section 54, as shown in Figure 8, is removably connected'to the side sections 52. The pillar posts 57 of the rear section 54 are each provided with a pair of spaced hinge elements 70 which are alignable with portions 73 are adapted to extend through the hinge elements 70 and 71 to connect the rear and side sections 52, 54 together.

oftentimes, because of the kind and size of the to be hauled it is desirable to extend the vertical height of the truck body above that which is obtainable with the utilization of one of the above described attachments. Inorder .to provide for this contingency longitudinally spaced openings 74 are formed in the flat, uppersurfaces 29rof' the sidesections 24of'the grain-tight attachment 23, for receiving the stakes 59 depending from the pillar posts'57 of'tthe side sections 52 of the stock-rack'attachment 51. The grain-tight attachment 23 is assembled on. the truck .body 12 in the'manner described above. Thereafter, the stakes 59 are inserted in the openings 74, and extend into the pocket defined by the rib members 28 adjacent each end of the side sections 24 and the metal sheets 26. The stock-rack attachment is then lowered ferred based upon the requirements for achieving the 1 objects of the invention and developing the utility thereof in the most desirable manner, due regard being had to existing factors of economy, simplicity of design and construction, and the improvements sought to be efiected. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the particular struc: tural and functional aspects emphasized herein are not cargo intended to exclude, but rather to suggest, such other adaptations and mddificat'idfis of the invention fall within the spirit arid scope of iiivefition as: ,de'fii'ied in the appended-claimsl What is claimed'is'z q t l I. An attachment for a pick-up 95s bdy'liaving a U-shaped, upiig'lif s'triifi'if provided with a flaf t6p surface, comprising: a first upright, U-shaped extension, the bottom surface of said extension being flat and adapted to abut the flat top surface of said structure; means extending below the flat bottom surface of said extension on one side thereof for overlapping said structure; clamping means carried by said extension for removably secur ing said extension to said structure; a second upright extension positioned above-said first extension; flange means depending from the bottom surface of said second extension adapted to overlap one side of said first extension; and means carried by said second extension for removably securing said extension to said first extension, said means including c-shaped portions engageable with the top edge of said first extension and being disposed on the side of said first extension opposite said flange means, and manually adjustable means for moving said C-shaped portions toward said flange means to firmly grip the edge of said first extension. A

2. An attachment for a pick-up type truck body having a pair of spaced, upright side panels interconnected at one end by a front panel and at its opposite end by an end gate, each of said side panels being provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced, vertically disposed stakereceiving sockets, and an outwardly projecting bead extending from the top surface thereof comprising: a pair of upright side sections, each of said sections having a pair of stakes depending therefrom receivable in said sockets; a front section having its ends rigidly connected to respective ends of said side sections, the bottom-surfaces of said side and front sections being adapted to abut respective top surfaces of said side and front panels and being disposed in vertical planes spaced inwardly from said beads; a flange depending below the bottom surfaces of said side and front sections, said flange being end thereof by a-front paneh ea eh said side panels means includingelements having C-shaped portions dis; 'pdsedori-the side of eac'hlof. said leg portionsof sai tension opposite" the flange thereof, and maftua fy ad 1 able means for moving said C-shaped portions toward said flange tognip the top edges of sa id structure-z between said O-shapedmortions and, said flange 4. An attachment for a pick-trapper; g p a piir bf spaced, upright sidepat'iels 'intercohhedt'd at being provided with .a pair of longitudinally spaced, ver tically disposed stake-receiving sockets andan outwardly projecting semi-cylindrical bead extending from the top surface thereof, comprising: a pair of upright side sections, each of said sections having a pair of stakes depending therefrom receivable insaid sockets; a fronttsection having'its ends rigidly connected to respective ends of said side sections toprovide a substantially U-shaped N structure, the bottom surfaces of said rigidly interconvnected side and front sections forming said U-shaped structure being adapted to abut respective topsurface of said side and front panels and being disposed invertical planes spaced inwardly from said beads; a flange depending from the bottom surface 'of said U-shaped structure, said flange being adapted tooverlap one side of saidside and front panels; and clamping means carried by said adapted to overlap one side of said side and front panels;

a closure member having its upper end pivotally attached to and supported by said side sections, said member being swingable about a transverse horizontal axis, the lower marginal edge of said member being provided with a pair of spaced depending projections for embracing the upper marginal edge of said end gate; and clamping means carried by said side sections for removably securing said closure member, side, and front; sections to said body, said means including elements having C-shaped portions horizontally aligned with certain portions of said flange and engageable with said beads, and manually adjustable means for bodily moving said elements inwardly horizontally with respect to said side sections and side panels toward said certain portions of said flange to grip the top edges of said side panels between said C-shaped .tain portions of said flange to top edges of said side panels from said pockets.

side sections for removably securing said .U-shaped strue- I ture to said body, said clamping means including elements having arcuately shaped portions horizontally alignable with certain portions of said flange, said portions, said bottom surface of said side sections, and said certain portions of said flange defining pockets for receiving the top edges of said side panels, and manually adjustable means for moving said arcuately shaped portions toward said cerprevent displacement of the 5. An attachment for a pick-up type .truc'k bodyhaving a U-shaped, upright str'ucture,'the leg portions of said' U-shaped structure having a plurality of vertically-disposed stake-receiving sockets providedv therein an'd'outwardly projecting semi-cylindrical beads cxtending'from the top surface thereof, comprising: an' upright U-shaped extension, the bottom surface of said U-shapedextension being adapted to abut the .top surface of said' U-shaped 7 structure and the'leg portions of said extension having portions and said certain portions of said flange to prevent vertical and horizontal displacement of said side sections from said side panels.

3. An attachment for a pick-up type truck body having a U-shaped, upright structure, the leg portions of said U-shaped structure having a'plurality of upwardly facing openings therein, and an end gate interconnecting said leg portions comprising: an upright U-shaped extension, the

bottom surface of said extension being adapted ,to abut,

the top surface of said structure and the legportions of said extension being provided with depending elements receivable in said openings; -a flange depending from the bottom surface of said extension adapted to overlap said structure on one side thereof; a closure member having its upper end pivotally attached to said leg portions of said extension, said member being swingable about a transverse horizontal axis, the lower marginal edge of said member being provided with a pair of spaced destakes depending therefrom receivable in said sockets; a 50 flange depending from thebottom surface of saidextnsion adapted to overlap said structure on one'side thereof; and clamping means carried by said leg portions of said extension for removably securing said extension to said structure including depending arcuately shaped portions r adapted to extend'around said'beads, and manually tidjustable means for moving said portions horizontally with respect to said flange and structure to force and maintain the top edge of said structure against saidtflange.

6. An attachment for'a pick-up type truck body having apair of spaced, upright side panels interconnected at one end thereof by a front panel, each of said side panels being provided with a pair of longitudinally'spaced, vertically disposed stake-receiving sockets and an outwardly projecting semi-cylindrical bead extending from the top surface thereof, comprising: a stock-rack including a pair of side sections, each of said sections having a pair of stakes depending therefromr'eceivable in said sockets, a

front section having its ends removably connected to the opposite ends of said side sections; and clamping means for removably securing said stock-rack to said bodyincluding plates depending'below the lower marginal edge of said sidesections adapted to overlap said side panels and an element associated with each plate for engaging the bead of the side panel adjacent thereto, each of said elements including a- 'vertically extending elongated por lidt body havi g 7 tion and an arcuately shaped portion depending below the marginal edge of said side. sections and abutting the bead adjacent thereto, and manually adjustable means carried by said side sections for bodily moving each of said ele ments With respect to the side panels and sections toward a respective plate to firmly grip the top edges of said side panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent 8 Sanders et a1 Nov. 30, 1909 Dahlen May 29, 1917 Redmond June 10, 1919 Kramer Aug. 15, 1922 Hughes July 17, 1923 Johnson July 20, 1943 

